St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-31
SAINT PAUL MATTERS.
A Large Mass Meeting at the Opera
House in the Interest of High
License.
The Speakers Hint at Bribery Of the
Legislature and Denounce Things
by Resolution.
Rev. A. w, Edwards, Emphatic Ser
mon Against High License or
ANY License.
Interview With Hon. John Rs Wilson.
OF Dakota--Relics of the Carnt-
val--Press Club.
THEY TALK HIGH LICENSE.

Speeches by Gov. NIcGill, GEN. Metz
Teton, Father Stanley and Others,
and Resolutions Adopted.
In response to the call of yesterday morn
ing, an audience of about 2,000 people,
friends and supporters of the high license
movement, assembled at the opera house.
Gov. McGill presided over the meeting, and
the stage was occupied by a number of
prominent citizens from all parts of the
state.
The meeting was called to order at s
o'clock. and q quartette sang the Italian
hymn. Gov. McGill made the opening ad-
dress, as follows:
This meeting was called for the purpose of
holding up the hands of those men in the
legislature who were leading in the high
license movement and encouraging the
friends of the cause in that body. When the
legislature first convened high license was
considered an assured fact, but there has
been an apparent change-perhaps more ap-
parent than real. The liquor Interests are
splendidly organized, and are really in that
respect worthy example to the law and
order people of this state. They have been
at work in the legislature, and have accom-
plished results which have alarmed the
friends of high license 1t is now desired
that we organize and do the work which has
been too much neglected. The time has
come to sift the wheat from the chaff and
understand who are the friends and enemies
of this measure. For myself l want
it plainly understood that l am
in favor of high license. L am
in favor of good government, in
favor of the best morality, and in favor of
carrying out the pledges of the party on
whose ticket l ran for Office. The Republic
can party in convention pledged itself to the
policy of high license. The issue was made
up, and on that issue we went before the peo-
pie, conquering the opposition from the liq-
nor interests, which was foreseen before the
issue was made In that contest we tri-
umphed, and now it would seem to me to be
the duty Of that party to adhere to its pledges
on this subject. |, Tor one, do not propose,
under any circumstances at any time, to re-
treat from that position, and cannot under
stand how legislature, elected on that issue,
can at this stage go back upon its promise.
The promises of great party have been
given out that ii its members were elected it
would enact a high license law in this state.
On that promise votes were obtained from the
Democratic party, many Democrats who be-
lieYed in high license leaving their
party in that election to vote
with the Republican party. We
must be true to these obligations; we must be
true to those men who sustained us in the
last election. 1t was not altogether party
movement but in this state the Republican
of high license. We are pledged to the
measure and the question now is, have we the
courage to fulfill our pledges? believe the
legislature intends to pass the high license
law, but they have the right of approval from
their constituents, and in furtherance of that
idea this meeting has been called-that they
may know that there is public opinion back
of them that will sustain them, and that will
Judge them if they fail to do their duty.
Gen. A. B. NettIeton, of Minneapolis,
was the next speaker. He said in sub
stance:
The legislature of two years ago was NOR
ally pledged to carry out the wishes of the
people on the high license question. 1t
proved absolutely false to the pledges on the
strength of which its members were elected
Last fall a twothirGs majority of the present
legislature was elected with the distinct I'M
Outstanding that a high license bill should be
passed. There should be no reason for the
calling of this meeting. A battle once fought
should not have to be fought over again.
But the powers of the liquor men have been
at work, and it has become necessary to call
for the voice of the people to approve. They
want to give US $500 license for the cities OF
ST. Paul and Minneapolis. Five hundred
dollars, / say, would not be high license
for these cities one thousand dollars is the
very lowest that the best public sentiment of
Minnesota will warrant or accept Another
objection is raised that high license would
drive out of business great number of ciIi-
zenS. They could do nothing better than
take a citizen out of the most destructive
aud damnable vocation that God has ever
permitted man to indulge in.
Senator NJ. j. Daniels, of Rochester, was
introduced. He said:
| have been a member of the legislature
since 1883. In that year, with the assistance
of another member, canyassed the house in
the interest of high license and had positive
al t1nr Aipn(. ,lial Of
sixty members of that body that would sup
port the measure. We had every reason to
believe that it would be carried, as it only re-
quired tifty-two votes to accomplish the re-
suit. From some reason that l am unable to
explain, one by one those loyal men were
picked OF, aud in the morning they walked
into the capitol and made excuses why they
could not support the measure but it is d
remarkable fact that we discovered that most
OF those men were converted in the night
When l come before the present legislature
working in the interests OF this bill, am met
with the same party, the same men and the
same lobby that I have met for the last four
years-a lobby that appears to be we'll organ
lied, and backed up by plenty of resources
and plenty Of ammunition, with Il large reserve
TO draw from. How is it with us?
Hon. Moses E. Clapp of Fergus Falls.
attorney general of the state, was the next
speaker:
W
pronounced in favor of high license, protec-
tion to the home and obedience to law. AS q
party we pronounced in favor of the same
thing, and the chief executive of our state
upon the occasion Of his recent inaugural,
spoke in no uncertain terms upon this CUES
ton. As citizens we have met again, but not
with the power of ballot, which for the time
being has been laid aside. Our representa-
tives in the legislature are to perform those
duties which in the aggregate we cannot our
NknxAxy &c
obey our commauds-not to be petltioned. Ii
they do not now pass the high license
bill, in accordance with the desires OF
the people, they will be unfaithful
TO their trust, and tie people who elected
them should remember it. l want to add to
what Mr.. Daniels has said. that of all those
members who were recreant to their trust in
'S3, only four can now claim seats in the leg
stature. L think the present bill will pass.
Col. III. g. Hicks, of Minneapolis, spoke.
BE said:
Those men who split hairs in the fight
which is to come off at the capitol on this
high license question must be denounced as
towards. We will mark the roll-c all and the
men who for any slight excuse shall desert
the ranks of the true. or shall desert the
ranks of the men who represent the minority,
must be consigned to future oblivion.
Father John Stanley, pastor of the Ca
thedral Catholic parish, spoke:
When invited to be present could not say
mo, for am in favor of high license first,
last and all the time, and am in favor OF
making the license just as high as it can be
made. for the Internal traffic that is being
licensed is doing more harm in this commun-
ity, and in every other community where
liquor is sold, than all other evils combined
When stand here as Catholic priest stand
upon my native ground. The Catholic church
has Endorsed high license, and Bishop Ire
lands whole life in the ministry has been
spent in cursing intenperanee. 1 look upon
the majority OF men engaged in the saloon
business as most disreputable fellows. If there
is any possible way of getting them out OF